OF LA PEROUSE. 2O9 



On the 24th, we went on fhore with, a party 

 of onr people who were fent to cut wood. 

 They procured it at the diftance of a demi- 

 kilometer from the place where we took in our 

 water. 



We kept pretty clofe to our wood-cutters, 

 as we were few in number, and the intentions of 

 the natives towards us were very fufpicious. 

 About nine o'clock in the morning, they took 

 pofTeflion of our bifcayan, which, riding at a 

 grapnel quite clofe to the fhore, was left folcly 

 to the care of the boat-keeper, and were in the 

 very act of hauling her in towards the beach, 

 that they might the more ealily carry off the 

 articles contained in her, when another boat 

 fortunately came to her afliftance. The robbers 

 did not relinquifli their attempt till our people 

 were going to fire at them. 



Lalfeny having gone on fhore in order to 

 make aflronomical obfervations, had been ob- 

 liged to return on bodird, almoft immediately, 

 not having been able to difperfe a crowd of 

 favages who appeared to be refolved to feize 

 upon his inftruments, notwithllanding he was 

 armed, and was alfo accompanied by two af- 

 lillants, and fcvcral of the boat's crew. 



The gunner of the Efperance, who went a 

 fliooting in the forefl, perceived about noon, 

 m a large glade, and at a ijiort dilVance from 



VOL. II, p the 



